Peace and Esther # 12

Esther 10:1 And King Xerxes imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea.

:2 Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

:3 For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Xerxes, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitudes of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

King Xerxes was killed during his twentieth year as king. He is mostly remembered today for his Queen, Esther, and the way God worked through him to save the Jews. Esther and Mordecai have lasting fame for the strength of their faith and conviction. From Esther’s courage we can draw strength, especially when we must take a stand for God and do more than we think possible.

Without directly mentioning God’s name, the writer lets us know that God is at work through the incredible string of events. The Jews know that God will take care of them even if His name isn’t mentioned.

This finishes the book of Esther.

Peace and Introduction to Esther

James 4:1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

:2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says” God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners/ and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

:9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

War comes at a high price. Not just monetarily but in lives.

When believers go to war with each other, the cost is high also. In our own selfish pursuits, we sometimes fight without considering the cost to our witness to the world or our relationship to each other. If we want to present the Prince of Peace to the world, believers need to stop fighting each other and practice peace.

Esther – Introduction

There isn’t a record on who wrote the book of Esther. It was apparently a Jew who was familiar with the Persian customs and the royal palace.

The events talked about happened around 486-465 BC.

The story of Esther takes place during the reign of Persian King Ahasuerus, also known as Xeres.

This is at least fifty years after Cyrus’ decree that announced that the exiled Jews could return to Jerusalem and about twenty-five years before Ezra’s return to Jerusalem.

Esther and Mordecai were living in the royal city of Susa.

Esther’s story is similar to Joseph’s and Daniel’s. Each is about a Jew who was delivered from a death plot and rose to a high position in a pagan government.

It reminds Christians that God is never absent, even though those living in a world hostile to the Christian faith may not always be aware of His presence.

Tomorrow (or Monday) we will look at the first chapter (or part of it) of Esther.

LEAVE IT THERE!

Is 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the lands of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.
:2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
:3 You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
:4 Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength,
:5 for He brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust.
:6 The foot shall tread it down – the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy."
:7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.
:8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You.
:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

 
Verses 3-4 are an anchor for our souls through every storm of life. Whether it is an annoying inconvenience or a heartbreaking situation, He can bring us peace. Instead of dwelling on the situation or circumstance that you can't change, dwell on the One who can give you peace. When we put our problems in His hands, He puts His peace in our hearts. Put the problem in HIS hands AND LEAVE IT THERE!

 
Jn 9:6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

 
DNA is in your saliva. When Jesus spat on the clay (what man was originally made from) He was going back to the source of the problem. The man had been blind form birth. That's what He does with us also if we allow it.